Origin, Meaning, Family History and Hartmann Coat of Arms and Family Crest

Hartmann Origin:

Germany, England, Sweden

Origins of Hartmann:

The surname of Hartmann was most often given as a nickname. It is a common element of surnames throughout Europe that many of them originally derived from nicknames, as it was a very common practice in medieval times. In the beginning, nicknames were applied to people who had distinguishing characteristics, such as moral or mental peculiarities, a similar appearance to a bird or animal, a similar disposition to a bird or animal, occupation of an individual, their habits, or their manner of dress. In the instance of the surname of Hartmann was derived from the Pre 7th Century word of “heorot,” which would have been given to someone who was a fast runner. However, in the medieval times, nicknames were often given as a joke, or sarcastically, so it is possible that in jest, this surname of Hartmann was actually given to someone who was very slow. Because this surname includes the suffix of “mann,” it is also possible that this surname was given to someone in an occupational setting. This means that the original bearer of the surname of Hartmann most likely was a runner for someone who was known by the name of Hart, meaning that he actually carried out this job. Occupational surnames were not originally hereditary surnames. They only became hereditary if the son followed in his father’s footsteps for a career; then the surname became hereditary and was used by the children and spouse of the son. The final possible origin of the surname of Hartmann is that it was of Irish origin, and was derived from the Old Gaelic surname of “O’hAirt,” which itself was comprised of the elements “O’” which can be translated to mean “a son of,” and “art,” which was a byname that could be translated to mean “a hero.” Thus, someone who bore this surname was said to be the son of a hero.

Variations:

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Hartmann can be traced to the country of England. One person by the name of Aelfric Hort was mentioned in the document known as the Olde English Byname Register for the county of Hampshire in the year of 1060. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of one King Edward, who was known throughout the ages as “The Confessor.” King Edward of England ruled from the year of 1040 to the year of 1066. Other mentions of the surname of Hartmann in the country of England include one Roger Hert, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in the year of 1166, and one Simon le Hert who was noted in the tax rolls commonly referred to as the Feet Fines of Kent in the year of 1194.

United States of America:

The first person to bear the surname of Hartmann in the United States of America was one Hans Hartmann, who arrived in New York City, NY in the year of 1709.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Hartmann: Germany 106,314; Brazil 14,612; United States 14,415; Switzerland 5,186; France 4,849; Austria 3,353; Denmark 2,719; South Africa 2,703; Hungary 1,931; Australia 1,198

Notable People:

Ernest Hartmann (1915-1992) who was a medical doctor, publicist, and author from the country of Germany who is known for developing the Hartmann grid

Erich Alfred Hartmann (1922-1993) who was known as “The Black Devil,” and who was a fighter pilot during World War II from Germany, who is known for having the highest scoring fighter ace in the aerial warfare, and claimed 352 aerial victories

Karl Robert Eduard Von Hartmann (1842-1906) who was a philosopher of the unconscious from the country of Germany

Moritz Hartmann (1821-1872) who was a Jewish poet from the country of Germany

Robert Hartmann (born in 1917) who was the former Counselor to President Gerald Ford from the year of 1974 to the year of 1977

Max Hartmann (1876-1962) who investigated human reproduction as a biologist

Cardinal Felix von Hartmann (1851-1919) who served as the Archbishop of Koln from the year of 1912 to the year of 1919

Thomas de Hartmann (1885-1956) who was a composer from the country of Russia

Viktor Alexandrovich Hartmann (1834-1873) who was a painter and architect from the country of Russia

Henri Albert Hartmann (1860-1952) who was a surgeon from the country of France

Hartmann Coat of Arms Meaning

The three main devices (symbols) in the Hartmann blazon are the cross flory, lion rampant and martlet. The three main tinctures (colors) are argent, gules and vaire .

Argent is the heraldic metal Silver and is usually shown as very pure white. It is also known more poetically as pearl, moon (or luna) 1Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P53. In a sketch or drawing it is represented by plain, unmarked paper 2A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1847, P11.

The bold red colour on a heraldic shield is known as gules. It has a long history within heraldry, it is known that one of those who besieged the scottish castle of Carlaverock in 1300 was the French knight Euremions de la Brette who had as his arms a simple red shield.3The Siege of Carlaverock, N. Harris, Nichols & Son, London, 1828, P180. The word gules is thought to come from the Arabic gule, or “red rose” 4Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 313. Later writers associated it with the precious stone ruby and the metal iron5Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P53, perhaps because of the red glow of iron in the heat of the blacksmith’s forge.

Special patterns, of a distinctive shape are frequently used in heraldry and are know as furs, representing the cured skins of animals 6Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 28. Although they were originally derived from real creatures the actual patterns have become highly stylised into simple geometric shapes, bell-like in the case of vair. 7Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P46-49. vair is a particularly interesting example that resonates today – the “glass” slippers worn by Cinderella are actually a mis-translation of “vair” (i.e. fur) slippers, the very same vair that appears in heraldry! 8A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1894, Entry:Vair

No other symbol appearing in heraldry is subject to as much variation as the cross9Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 47. Mediaeval Europe was a deeply religious and Christian and many of the nobility wanted to show their devotion by adopting the symbol of the cross as part of the arms. Since no two arms could be identical there arose many variants of the cross, typically involving patterning along the edges 10Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P67, or fanciful, decorative endings to the arms of the cross 11A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P128. The cross flory is typical of these, having each arm end in something very similar to the fleur-de-lys.

There can be no animal more clearly associated with Heraldry than the lion, majestic King of the Beasts. Originally it appeared only in one pose, erect, on one paw, with the others raised 12Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 64 but such was the popularity of this figure, and the need to distinguish arms from each other, that it soon came to be shown in an enormous range of forms 13Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P136-141. The lion rampant is an example of these modified form, and any family would be proud to have such a noble creature displayed on their arms. Rampant is the default attitude of the lion, raised on its hind legs, facing to the dexter and with front paws extended in a fearsome and powerful pose.

The martlett is by far the most common bird to appear in British Heraldry, perhaps only equalled by the eagle, however it is not a species ever to be found in an ornithologists handbook! The word itself is though to have come from the French word merlette, the female blackbird and itself a similar type of charge used in French Heraldry. 14A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1894, Entry:Martlet. Over time the image has become quite stylised, without visible legs or distinctive feathers. Wade suggests that this representation arises from “the appearance of the bird of paradise to ancient travellers”15The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P79. Other bird species may be named in coats of arms (cornish chough is a frequent example) but in actual execution their appearance is often indistinguishable from the martlet.